POPULAR MECHANICS \ eras nouoine OVER PUSLIN” | prac, Screws TOP VIEW OF STEM in, plywood, and all others are of ¥4-in. plywood. This is a jig-saw job, the central portions being cut away so that the frame is about 2 in. wide all around. Fig. 8 gives the general form of the frames. Frames 5 to 8 have no cross member at the top. Blocks, as in Fig. 9, are fastened on frames 6, 7 and 8 to carry the members to which the oarlocks are bolted. When the frames have been completed, screw the keelson, with stem and frames assembled, to a plank as in Fig. 2. Each frame is fastened to the keelson with a fin- ishing nail and marine glue. Strips are nailed across the tops of the frames tem- porarily to hold them in their relative po- sitions until the gunwales and battens are put on, These are fastened to stem, stern and frames 6 and 7 with brass screws, and Penta) Err am to the other frames with finishing nails, as in Figs. 5 and 6. The coaming is ¥4 by 2%-in, plywood, mitered at the corners. All plywood, if the waterproof grade is not available, should be thoroughly shellacked before assembling, especially along the edges where moisture might enter and loosen the layers. The seat travels on a pair of hardwood rails with a flange and a lock strip, Fig. 10. The seat top is ¥2-in. plywood mounted on skate rollers which turn on axles welded to flat-iron brackets. A lip below the roll- ers slides under the lock strip attached to the rail, and prevents the seat from drop- ping out when the shell is turned upside down. On the after-end of the rails, a foot rest is bolted, with toe straps, and just be- yond this is a pivoted foot bar for steering.POPULAR MECHANICS I 1 Tn pega [eoanans Tgauares P Beiagoween) Construction of the rud- der is simple, as shown in Fig. 7. After completing the frame, two coats of shellac or spar varnish are applied. The coaming and seat top will be more cfiective if stained wal- nut or mahogany before varnishing. For the covering or kin,” use a good grade of unbleached muslin. Put the deck on first. Fit it temporarily, allowing for a lap around the coaming, Fig. 10. Apply marine glue around the gunwales, draw the cloth smooth over the three battens on each deck, and press the edges on the glued gunwales, Next, fit a piece of muslin over the hull snugly, pin- ning or basting it at the end. Remove and stitch with a double seam at the ends. Ap- ply more marine glue on the gunwales and put the hull fabric on permanently, using copper tacks along the gunwales only. The cloth should not be stretched too tightly, but just enough to remove wrinkles. Two coats of airplane wing dope will make it Taprep anounn oastinG wit -<.HOUING OVER See Serre Aus wn 10. fx fru iw St euamo Frifsunso oe 2p Feige drum tight. When the wing dope is dry, give the entire covering a coat of spar varnish. Put on a half-round molding to cover the tacks in the gunwales, also around the coaming to cover the lapped cloth, and then nail a brass molding on both the stem and stern, Fig. 4 shows construction of the oarlocks which are 48 in. from center to center, al- though this spacing may be varied to suit. The oarlocks and wood strips are fastened to the hull after the skin is put in place.AMATEUR MECHANICS JE SPECIALLY designed for the oarsman who wishes to improve his rowing skill, this light racing shell offers health- ful exercise, as well as keen, competitive sport. While this model is a one-man de- sign, it can be built to accommodate two or more persons by adding 2 ft. per man to the length, with a corresponding in- crease in size of the cockpit and seat rails, To start construction, first prepare a keelson of oak or spruce, 1 in, square and 17 ft. 6 in. Jong, and then make the stem and stern posts. These are identical, and are built up as in Fig. 6. Tapered blocks A and B are fastened to a piece of ¥-in. spruce or white pine with marine glue and RACING finishing nails. The general deck plan is shown in Fig. 3, Now make the twelve frames, outlines of which are given in Fig. 1. The cockpit frames numbered 4 to 9 are cut from %- 267ee ee ; |- - == oe